Virgin Australia's lounge at Perth Airport now boasts more space, more seats and more flat-screen tellies.
With room for up to 300 travellers, thanks to almost 400 square metres of extra space, the lounge is now larger than its Brisbane counterpart – although it lacks the modern design of Virgin's new-look lounges.
A Virgin Australia spokesman described the lounge to Australian Business Traveller as being "more in line with the Sydney lounge at the moment", although a lounge that's more in keeping with the modern style of Melbourne and Brisbane will be built as part of the new terminal at Perth Airport due to open in 2014.
(Of course, Virgin's Sydney lounge is getting its own multi-million dollar makeover to become a flagship two-level lounge by year's end, while Virgin and Etihad will open a shared international lounge in Sydney early next year.)
Virgin says the Perth lounge now features several 'zoned areas to offer choice and improved experience' for travellers, additional group seating and a self-service beverage area (in addition to the barista and bar service) plus three more HD TVs and two additional sets of flight information displays.
The lounge is open to all business class travellers plus Gold and Platinum members of Virgin's Velocity frequent flyer program.
Virgin also offers 'anytime access' to its lounges, which means that Velocity Gold and Platinum cardholders can use the lounge even when they're not booked on a flight with Virgin Australia or partners such as Air New Zealand.
For the very latest news and reviews, follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 335
Will they do it properly in the long run to bring it into line with BNE, MEL, SYD, OOL and MKY?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
Well it's already sorta 'in line ' with Sydney's current design (!), you mean the slick new style of Birsbane, Melbourne and what Sydney will have this year – the answer is yes, as the article says, when Perth Airport gets its new Virign terminal in 2014 there will be a new lounge (and you' think this will be in the new design).
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 335
Ok sry... yes its like counterparts in terms of furniture etc but not in terms of architecture. Very much looking forward to new VA PER terminal!!
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
Yes, the architecture and overall design still has to make that Cinderella-like transormation to the same high standard as Melbourne and Brisbane, but that's a 'wait for 2014' job...
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
Yeah, all this stuff takes time and dollars. Not sure how the new-look Perth lounge will look after all those miners tramp in and out, all those slick white furnishings will need a twice-daily wipe down! Maybe they should keep the old lounge for them, call it a dedicated Miner's Lounge, and leave the new one for the 'normal' business travellers and frequent flyers!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 335
Travelling as unaccompanied minors? ;D (i couldnt help it)
Maybe skywest might think of something along these lines.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin Australia upgrades Perth Airport lounge